Chris DeLuca Sun-Times Article...

[bjm676]

http://www.suntimes.com/cgi-bin/print.cgi?...t-deluca21.html

 

 

Let's say it's won, done for Sox

 

September 21, 2006

 

 

Rewind to March, April, even June. Let's say someone could confirm back then that for the first time, the American League Central would be sending two teams to the playoffs this season.

 

Sounds like good news for the defending World Series-champion White Sox, but wait, there's more.

 

Let's say someone could have told you back then that Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome would have MVP-caliber seasons, each belting more than 40 home runs -- something that has never happened before in franchise history. Along with Paul Konerko, all three sluggers would knock in more than 100 runs. And all three would spend a collective zero days on the disabled list.

 

Let's say that third baseman Joe Crede, whose own manager suggested two years ago we tone down our lofty expectations, would finally meet them, entering game No. 152 already with career highs in home runs (29) and RBI (93) -- and threatening to give the Sox four players with 100 or more RBI for the first time in franchise history.

 

Let's say that catcher A.J. Pierzynski would put up better offensive numbers this season than during his World Series run of a year ago -- that, in fact, he would be on pace for one of his most productive seasons and emerge as a trusted clutch hitter. That second baseman Tadahito Iguchi would put up almost identical numbers to his ''rookie'' season in 2005 and shortstop Juan Uribe would have bigger power numbers.

 

Let's say that 152 games into the season, no team in the major leagues would have a better average than the Sox' .312 with runners in scoring position. We would have said -- wait, Sox management DID say -- that if all that happened, then the team could overlook a lack of offensive production from center fielder Brian Anderson and benefit from the youngster's solid glove.

 

Even if someone told us leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik would fail to match his offensive output of an All-Star season a year ago, but still become the first Sox player since 1991-92 to steal 40 or more bases in consecutive seasons, that would seem to be enough -- if all the other factors fell into place.

 

Besides, this team was built around its starting rotation.

 

Let's say three, four, five months ago, someone could promise that the Sox would boast the healthiest rotation in the Central, with Jose Contreras (sciatica) spending 15 days on the disabled list for a non-arm-related injury. Imagine if someone told you the rest of the rotation would steer clear of the DL entirely.

 

Now let's say that unlike the three-headed closer -- Shingo Takatsu, Dustin Hermanson and Bobby Jenks -- needed in 2005, the Sox would have a healthy Jenks ready for ninth-inning duty uninterrupted from April to September. And that he would enter the final 10 games of the season with at least 40 saves -- putting him second in all of the major leagues.

 

The easiest schedule

 

Let's say that someone could have told us the Sox would actually wind up with the easiest schedule in the Central, based on their six interleague games against the Cubs -- the National League's worst team.

 

Let's say all of that stuff happened -- did we mention the Sox' disabled list would be the loneliest place in town?

 

Someone tells you all of that would fall into place, that two teams from the Central would go to the playoffs, and there is no way any sane person would suggest in March, April or even June that the Sox wouldn't be one of them.

 

But wait, there's more.

 

Let's say someone would tell you that when the Sox played their 152nd game, the Cleveland Indians would be 10 games under .500, without slugger Travis Hafner and right where they belong, in fourth place. And the Kansas City Royals would be in dead last, where everyone expected.

 

That would leave the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins as the only teams that would pose a threat to the Sox.

 

Let's say someone could have predicted the Twins would find a surprising young left-handed starter named Francisco Liriano, who would have an All-Star start to his career, but then would be lost down the stretch. Oh, and he would be lost as the Twins fought for their wild-card life after losing veteran Brad Radke from the rotation. And let's say someone could have told us months ago that the Twins would be without superstar center fielder Torii Hunter for two weeks in July, during the most pivotal part of their season.

 

Let's say someone revealed the Tigers would have to get through most of 2006 without No. 5 hitter Dmitri Young -- for so long, one of the biggest forces in the middle of that lineup. Let's say that the Tigers' best winning percentage with any position player in the lineup came with their 69-32 mark when Placido Polanco started at second base, but that he would be lost in mid-August because of a separated shoulder and that the Tigers' best hope of replacing him would be getting Neifi Perez from the Cubs.

 

Let's say that pitcher Mike Maroth would rebound from a 21-loss season in 2003 to get off to a 5-2 start with a 2.18 ERA only to be lost for most of the season because of elbow surgery. Let's say the Tigers would enter their game against the Sox on Sept. 20 without a single hitter in their starting lineup with more than 26 home runs or 97 RBI.

 

Really, it's hard to imagine

 

 

Someone gives you all of this inside information at the start of the season -- with so much good fortune and gaudy numbers for the Sox -- and it's hard to imagine them sitting home for the playoffs.

 

Then you snap back into the present and check the standings with 10 games to play: Tigers in first place, six games ahead of the Sox; Twins leading the wild card, 51/2 games ahead of the Sox.

 

Yes, two teams from the Central are headed for the playoffs. And the Sox won't be one of them.

 

''It's disappointing to see where we were halfway through the year and where we are now,'' Pierzynski said. ''It's not where we thought we would be.''

 

It still doesn't add up.

Edited September 21, 2006 by robinventura23

[greasywheels121]

I saw this article this morning. It's one of the best ones out there.

[Jordan4life_2007]

Very good article. Just reinforces how terribly dissapointing a season this has been.

[kapkomet]

It also shows that the team HASN'T "mailed it in" like some like to say around here. It's just the teams around them are better this year. It's been one of the strangest years in a long, long time.

 

Hell, Cleveland was supposed to be right there, too. This division has four INCREDIBLY talented teams - no one else in baseball can say that, and it will be a crapshoot for the next 5 years or so to see which 2 of the 4 get in the playoffs every year.